candidate to convince the Henley Foundation that they should sink a ton of money into saving her service-animal program.
She planted her feet more firmly in plush carpeting that seemed to reach to her ankles. The navy blazer and white shirt that had seemed appropriate when she’d left the farm now felt like rummage-sale leftovers. She inhaled. The office even smelled like money.
I don’t belong here, Father, but you know I’ll do whatever it takes to help Your little ones.
You can’t. Aunt Mariah’s voice had rarely echoed in her head in recent years, and now was certainly not a good time for it to start. You’re worthless. Always were, always will be.
She’d found her own way of dealing with that bitter voice over the years. I am a child of God, valuable in His sight.
The words gave her the assurance to face anyone, including eccentric millionaires and angry firefighters.
She cleared her throat. “If Mr. Flanagan is opposed to this, perhaps we could find another client to prove the worth of my program to the foundation.”
Henley’s rosy face crumpled, as if he were a toddler whose promised ice cream cone had been snatched away.
“Nonsense.” The chief’s voice boomed. “Of course Flanagan wants to do this. He can’t wait to get started.” He shot Gabe a look that demanded agreement.
Obviously Chief Donovan had no intention of offending the man whose generosity to the city of Suffolk, Pennsylvania, was legendary. Well, she didn’t want to offend Henley, either. She wanted him to come forth with the grant for Nolie’s Ark that would give many more people service dogs to make their lives easier.
She suppressed a flicker of panic. With the rising taxes on farmland, how much longer could she keep going if the foundation didn’t help?
“Yes.” Flanagan ground out the word. If his square jaw got any tighter, it might break. “I’m willing to cooperate.”
They were the appropriate words, but every line of his tense body said cooperation was out of the question.
Nolie’s heart sank. She couldn’t hope to convince the foundation that her program worked if her test case were determined to reject everything she had to offer.
“That’s good.” She tried to pretend she believed him. She focused on Henley across the barricade of the desk. He was the one she had to convince, not Flanagan. “But as you know, my work is primarily with children. I’m not sure that Mr. Flanagan is the best candidate.”
“You do work with adults, too.” Henley put a manicured hand on the navy folder in which she’d submitted her proposal. The cheap folder looked out of place on the expanse of polished mahogany. “You mentioned that in your application.”
She was going to have some fierce words for Claire. Her best friend had been supremely confident that convincing Henley she deserved the grant would be a snap. Maybe it would be, for someone as polished and savvy as Claire.
Unfortunately plain old country girl Nolie Lang was the one who had to do the convincing.
“Pairing a seizure dog with a client depends on the rapport between client and animal. That’s easier to achieve with a young client.”
Was she beginning to sound desperate? That was how she felt, but desperation probably wasn’t the best feeling to convey if she expected the man to fund her work.
“Gabriel Flanagan is the foundation’s choice.”
She caught the glimpse of steel in Henley’s rosy face. The implication was clear. This would be done his way or not at all.
For a moment she didn’t seem to see the elegant office with its wide windows looking out on the centuries-old city square. Instead she saw her farm, her animals and the people she could help with this money. Especially the children she could help.
She forced a smile. “If that’s how you feel about it, I’d be happy to work with Mr. Flanagan.”
She couldn’t help but glance in the firefighter’s direction. He glared back at her, as if furious that she’d agreed.
Her own anger sparked. If Flanagan didn’t want to do this, he was the one who should speak up.
“Excellent,” Henley said, rubbing his palms together in pleasure. “I’m delighted you both see it my way.”
As if either of them had a choice in the matter. Well, she’d certainly try this, but she had a bad feeling about what Flanagan was bringing to the situation.
“Now tell me,” Henley went on. “How do you usually begin work?”
Maybe it would be better not to let her gaze stray toward Gabe Flanagan. “Ordinarily I visit the client’s home first, but—”
“Good.” Chief Donovan planted his hands on the arms of his chair, as if ready to have this meeting over. “Gabe needs a ride, so you can drive him home now. That way you can meet all of the Flanagans at once.”
His tone made it sound as if that should be a real treat for her. Her apprehension grew. She wasn’t much good with families, and she didn’t suppose the Flanagans would be any different.
“Fine.” Henley got to his feet, seeming to take her agreement for granted. The rest of them followed suit. Apparently the audience was over. She turned toward the door, not looking forward to the moment when she’d be alone with Gabe Flanagan.
“One last thing,” Henley said.
She swung back around, apprehension a hard ball in her stomach.
A ray of afternoon sunlight made Henley’s white hair glisten. “We have to set a deadline, of course. Suppose we say one month from today. You can report back to us, and we’ll make a final decision about the grant.” He beamed. “I’m sure we’ll all be pleased with the results.”
The expensive office shimmered in front of her eyes. One month. One month to successfully pair a service dog with a man who looked as if he’d rather do just about anything than come anywhere near her and her program.
She squared her shoulders, reaching deep for confidence. Her work deserved the support of the Henley grant. She had to believe that if she were to make a difference.
Like it or not, Gabe Flanagan was essential to her success. That meant she had to make the man cooperate, whether he wanted to or not.
Gabe followed the Lang woman out into the tiled hallway, feeling as if he’d been kicked in the gut. He’d expected this little soirée to be bad. He just hadn’t expected it to be that bad.
Anger and resentment roiled through him. This wasn’t fair. The chief had no right to subject him to this humiliation.
Nolie Lang punched the elevator button. He stood behind her, seething. He would not favor his bad leg when he moved. He could control the limp. He couldn’t control the seizures.
A chill went down his spine. What if he had one right here, right now, falling down in front of her on the polished tile floor?
No.
